Fly-trap.



PATENTED AUG. 8-, 1905.

0. B. JACOBS. FLY TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

wi/lmeao e0 23 No. 796,655 PATENT-II) AUG. 8, 1905. 0. B. JACOBS.

FLY TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANDREW. s. GRANAM no. vuorc-umnamwuzns. WASMMGYON. u. c.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

FLY-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed September 12,1903. Serial No. 172,994.

T0 at whone it mmty concern:

Be it known that I, OLAUS B. J AooBs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Roland, in the county of Story and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Fly-Trap, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in screens for doors and windows.

The object of the present invention is to improve the constructionofscreens for doors and windows, more especially the means for permittingthe flies to escape from the interior or inner face of a screen and forenabling such flies to be captured and destroyed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple andcomparatively inexpensive fly-screen of this character adapted to causeflies crawling upward to pass from the interior to the exterior andcapable of trapping the same, so that they may be destroyed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich will also be adapted to capture flies crawling upward on theexterior of a screen and to enable the trap or receptacle to be readilyremoved from.

the screen for baiting it or destroying captured flies.

The invention also has for its object to provide a screen having a flytrap or receptacle adapted to be readily collapsed and folded againstthe screen to enable the latter to be compactly arranged for shippingand storing.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of constructionwithin the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a portion of a screenprovided with a fly-trap constructed in accordance with this invention.Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionalview of the same. Fig. 4: is a' detaii perspective view of a portion ofthe screen, the trap or receptacle being removed. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective'view of a portion of the fly-trap. Fig. 6 is a similar viewmaterial which constitutes the body portion of the trap or receptacle.Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the trap or receptacle,illustrating a slight modification of the invention. Fig. 8 is avertical sectional view illustrating the modification of the trap. Fig.9 is a detail view of a portion of the corrugated strip of the trapshown in Fig. 8. Fig.-10 is a sectional view illustrating the manner ofmounting the pivoted end or door. Fig. 11 is a sectional viewillustrating the preferred form of the invention.

.Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 designates a screen-frame having a corrugated fly-escape strip 2interposed between its top bar or piece 3 and the upper edge of thescreen material 4. The screen may be either a door or window screen, andthe screen material is wire-gauze of the ordinary con-- struction. Thefly-escape strip 2 is con structed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and it is provided at intervals with transversely-disposedcorrugations 5, consisting of approximately semicylindrical bends, whichextend outward from the intermediate straight or flat portions 6 andwhich are provided at intervals with perforations for the reception offastening devices 7. The straight fiat intermediate portions are fittedagainst the with dow or door screen frame, as clearly shown in Figs. 2,3, and 4 of the drawings, and every other one of the projecting portionsor corrugations 5 is perforated, and the fastening devices 7 secure theupper edge of the screen material and the corrugated strip to thescreenframe. The intermediate portion 6 may also be provided withperforations for additional fastening devices when desired, The pro-'jecting portions 5 of the fly-escape strip space the upper edge orportion of the screen material from the top of the screen-frame and formfly-escape openings or passages to permit flies crawling up the screento pass from the interior or inner face of the same. The upper edge ofthe screen material 4 extends upward beyond the fly-escape strip toprovide a projecting flange or portion 9, and the screen material is ofsuflicient length for this purpose.

A strip 11 of wire-gauze or other suitable material is interposedbetween the fly-escape strip and the top of the screen-frame and isextended above the former to provide a projecting flange, which isarranged parallel with the flange 9 to form a transverse passage theentire width of the screen. This strip 11 is secured to the screen-frameby the fastening devices for securing the fly-escape strip to the same.The fastening devices 7 also secure L-shaped plates or brackets 12 tothe outer face of the screen material, and these L-shaped plates orbrackets, which are rigid with the fly-escape strip, formoutwardly-projecting supporting-flanges, which space a fly trap orreceptacle 13 from the outer face of the screen material 4 to form anupwardly-extending passage for directing the flies that crawl upward onthe exterior of the screen into the fly trap or receptacle. The platesor brackets are arranged at intervals.

The fly trap or receptacle is supported by inclined rods or pins 14,having pointed ends 15, which are embedded in the top of the screen, theouter portions of the rods or pins extending upward and outward at anangle to the screen to receive the trap or receptacle, which is adapted,owing to the inclination of the pins or rods, to wedge itself againstthe top of the screen,whereby it is firmly held in position on the sameand is prevented from being accidentally loosened by the slamming of ascreen-door. The body portion of the trap consists of a sheet of screenmaterial, which is rolled into an approximately cylindrical body, theedgesof the material being overlapped and spaced apart to permit theflies to pass inward into the trap or receptacle. The rear edge of thebody of the trap is provided at intervals with slots or openings 16 andis arranged against a strip 17, which is provided with eyes 18,preferably consisting of staples embedded in the strip and extendingthrough the slots or openings to receive a locking-rod 19. The lockingrod 19 is arranged on the exterior of the screen material of which thebody of the trap or receptacle is constructed, and it securely holds thesaid material against the strip 17. The strip 17, which is preferablyconstructed of Wood, has a beveled lower edge,

' which fits against the top of the screen-frame to facilitate thewedging action of the trap or receptacle. The terminals of the lockingWire v or rod are bent at an angle, as shown, to retain the rod in theeyes of the strip; but any other suitable means may be employed for thispurpose, as will be readily understood.

' The inner edge of the body of the trap or receptacle is spaced fromthe beveled or Wedgeshaped strip by a corrugated strip 20, and it isextended beyond the same to form a projecting flange 21.

The corrugated strip is perforated at intervals to receive fasteningdevices 23 for securing the parts together. The straight intermediateportions of the corrugated strip of the trap or receptacle are fittedagainst the beveled or wedge-shaped strip, and they may be perforated toreceive additional fastening devices, if desired. Any number offastening devices may be employed for securing the necessary strength ofthe parts, as will be readily understood. A strip 24: of wire-gauze orother suitable material is interposed between the corrugated strip andthe beveled or wedge-shaped strip and is extended above the same toprovide a projecting flange, and the latter is arranged approximatelyparallel with the flange 21 to form an intervening space or passage fordirecting the flies into the trap or receptacle. Instead of employing astrip of wire-gauze to form this flange for cooperating with the flange21 a strip 25 of celluloid or other suitable transparent material may beemployed for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 7 of the accompanyingdrawings. The corrugations or bends of the fiy-escape strip of the trapform sockets for the reception of the inclined rods or pins, which fitsnugly in such sockets and which are arranged at intervals, a suflicientnumber being provided to aflord a firm support for the trap orreceptacle. The trap or receptacle may be readily placed on and removedfrom the pins or supporting-rods, and when shipping or storing thescreen the rear edge of the body portion of the trap or receptacle maybe unfastened to permit the screen material thereof to be unfoldedagainst the flyscreen. This will enable the parts to be compactlyarranged, and the ends 26 and 27 of the fly trap or receptacle aresecured to the body portion by suitable fastening devices, which areadapted to be readily Withdrawn in folding the fly trap or receptacle.When the overlapped ends of the receptacle are detached, the cylindricalbody portion may be readily stripped from the end pieces to fold itagainst the screen. The end 27 is pivoted by fastening devices 28 toform a door, and it is adapted to be turned on the pivots to affordaccess to the interior of the trap or receptacle for baiting the samewhen desired and for destroying or removing the captured The ends 26 and27 are provided with extensions 29, constructed of Wire-gauze andadapted to form end walls for the passages at the inner and outer facesof the screen material of the frame 1. The screen material 4:, which hasits upper portion arranged at an angle, may be connected with the screenframe at its side edges in any desired manner, a block or piece ofscreen material being preferably employed for this purpose. The trap maybe baited with suitable material for catching the flies, if desired, andwhen a sufficient number have been captured they can be destroyed in anydesired manner and can be emptied from the trap or receptacle, which maybe readily removed from and replaced on the inclined supports formed bythe rods or pins 14.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is illustrated a slight modification of the invention,in which the supporting-strip 17 is omitted. The body portion 30 of thetrap or receptacle is extended to the top of the screen-frame and isdoubled or bent backward upon itself to form a flange 31, whichcooperates with the flange 32, formed by the inner edge of the bodyportion of the trap or receptacle. The inner edge of the trap orreceptacle is spaced from the outer edge by a corrugated strip 33,provided at intervals with bends forming projecting portions and adaptedto receive the inclined supports of the screen-frame. These bends orprojecting portions are provided with triangular tongues or spurs 34,which are passed through the inner edge of the body of the screenmaterial of the trap or receptacle, whereby the same is secured to thecorrugated strip. These tongues or spurs are formed integral with thestrip and are struck up from the same, being formed by partially-severedportions of the strip, as shown. The strip 33 is also provided with aseries of tongues or flanges 34, formed integral with the strip andconsisting of partially-severed portions bent outward or rearward andprovided with perforations or eyes to receive a locking wire or rod 35.By this construction the rear edge of the body portion of the trap orreceptacle, which is provided with openings to receive the tongues orflanges of the strip 33, is detachably secured to the said strip and maybe removed when it is desired to fold the receptacle. The doubled edgeof the trap or receptacle tits against the top of the screen-frame andis firmly wedged against the same.

The trap or receptacle may also be applied to a wall or window wherethere is no screen, and flies crawling upward will pass into the saidtrap or receptacle. The trap is preferbly arranged on the exterior of ascreen; but it may be arranged at either face of the same, as desired.

The object of the celluloid strip 25 is torender the obstructions forpreventing the return of the flies less distinct or visible, so that theflies will not be deterred from passing upward into the trap. Thecelluloid may be made very thin and flexible, and the spring orresiliency of the same may be such as to permit flies to readily pressthe strip aside without difficulty in passing upward, and thisarrangement will effectually prevent flies from returning through thenarrow contracted space or passage, as a fly in returning would beunable to force the celluloid strip away from the adacent flange andreenter through such space or passage.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a screenprovided with a fly-escape passage, and a fly trap or receptacle hav ingan entrance opposite the said passage and spaced from the screen toprovide an intervening passage, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a screenprovided at the top with a fly-passage located at one face of the screenmaterial, and a trap or receptacle spaced from the other face of thescreen material to provide a passage and extending above and below thepassage of the screen and provided with an entrance opposite the same,substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a screenhaving a passage for flies and provided with projecting portions, and atrap or receptacle having an entrance opposite the passage of the screenand fitted against the said projections to provide a passage between itand the screen, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a trap or receptacle consistingof ends,and a body portion of flexible material having its endsoverlapped,spaced apart and detachably connected, substantially asdescribed.

5. In adevice of the class described, a screen provided with a fly trapor receptacle and having-passages arranged at the inner and outer facesof the screen and communicating with the interior of the trap orreceptacle, substantially as described.

6. In'adevice of the class described, a screen provided with a trap orreceptacle detachably mounted on the screen and having a flexible bodyportion, said body portion having overlapped edges spaced apart anddetachably connected, substantially as described.

7. In adevice of the class described, a screen provided with a foldabletrap detachabl y mounted on the screen and having a body portion, saidscreen being also provided with passages arranged at its inner and outerfaces and communicating with the interior of the trap, substantially asdescribed.

8. 1n adevice of the class described, the combination of a screen havinga corrugated strip interposed between its frame and the screen materialto provide passages, said screen being also provided with projectingportions,and a trap fitted against the projecting portions and spacedfrom the screen material to provide a passage and having an entrancelocated opposite the said passages, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a screenhaving an inclined support arranged at an angle to the screen, and atrap detachably mounted on the support and wedged against the screen,substantially as described.

10. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a screen provided with a series of inclined pins arrangedat an angle to the screen, and a trap detachably fitted on the pins,substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a screenhaving inclined pins, and a trap provided with a corrugated stripforming fly-passages and providing a series of sockets to receive thepins, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the class described, a trap or receptacle consistingof an approximately cylindrical body portion having its ends overlapped,spaced apart and detachably connected, substantially as described.

13. In a device of the class described,ascreen provided with a trapcomprising a body portion having overlapped edges spaced apart to form apassage, one of the edges being detachably secured, and means forclosing the ends of the body portion, substantially as described.

14. In a device of the class described, ascreen provided with a traphaving overlapped edges spaced apart to provide a passage, and a stripinterposed between the overlapped edges and cooperating with the inneredge to form a passage, substantially as described.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a screen,of a fly-trap comprising a body having overlapped edges, the inner edgebeing extended to form a flange, a strip interposed between the edgesand forming passages, and a flange projecting beyond the strip andcooperating with the said flange, substantially as described.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with asupporting-surface, and a piece of screen material, of astrip interposedbetween the supporting-surface and the screen material and provided withprojecting bends arranged at intervals, said bends serving to space thescreen material from the supporting-surface and forming fly-escapepassages, and fastening devices piercing the screen material and thebends and securing the said screen material and the strip to thesupporting-surface. a

17. In a device of the class described, a flytrap having edges spacedapart, and a corrugated strip interposed between the edges and formingflypassages, substantially as described.

18. In a device of the class described, a flytrap comprising a bodyhaving overlapped edges forming a passage, a strip interposed betweenthe overlapped edges and provided with eyes extending through openingsof one of the edges, and fastening means passing through the eyes anddetachabl y securing such edge to the strip, substantially as described.

19. .In a device of the class described, a flytrap comprising anapproximately horizontal body having overlapped and longitudinal edges,and provided with a corrugated strip interposed between the edges andforming passages, substantially as described.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination of two pieces ofscreen material or the like, of a corrugated strip interposed betweenthe said strips and having projecting portions or bends spacing suchpieces to provide a passage, one of the pieces being ar-' rangeddirectly under or in rear of the fly-escape strip, and means forsecuring the parts in position, substantially as described.

21. A device of the class described provided with a fly-passage andhavinga resilient transparent celluloid strip having a projectingresilient flexible flange arranged to be sprung aside by flies inpassing through the passage in one direction and forming a guard forconstricting the passage for preventing the return of flies,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OLAUS B. J AOOBS.

Witnesses:

ED. QUAM, A. A. OLSON.

